Kirk gave each little extended hand a hearty shake, and the
children--declaring over and over that "they had a lovely time and were so
much obliged for the geese"--climbed into the cart and set off for home.
"I'd go the short cut by the ford," advised Patrick; "it looks like we might
get a shower by sunset."
"Yes, I think we would better," said Rudolph, glancing toward the clouds in
the west Rudolph prided himself on his ability to forecast the weather, and
was generally able to tell correctly when a shower was pretty sure to come and
when it was likely to "go round."
So Barney was coaxed into a good gait, which he was ready as a rule to take
towards home, and the little ford by way of a farm-lane, and which saved a
good mile on the road home, was soon reached. Barney knew the place well and,
always enjoying it, picked his way carefully to the middle of the ford, and
then he took it into his stubborn little head to stand stock still, and to
plant his four hoofs firmly in the nice soft mud at the bottom of the stream.
"Go on," urged Tattine; "Go on," urged Mabel, and Rudolph applied his sapling
whip with might and main, but all to no effect. Meantime some geese from a
neighboring farm had come sailing out into the ford, to have a look at their
friends in the crate, and the geese in the crate, wild to be out on the water
with their comrades, craned their long necks far out between the laths, and
set up a tremendous squawking.
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